Exchange City
Comments
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rebetata...so sorry to hear you got cellulitis...how far out from TE surgery are you?
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Darn, Rebecca, no fair! Hope you heal very soon. Tell me, what exactly is celluitus? Does it attack the surface of skin or the scar area? I've seen the term on our forum but really not sure what it is. hugs, deekaay
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Rebecca... I also had cellulitis.. It was so depressing. I ended up in the hospital for a week with it! Just horrible. I was on an iv for a total of 25 days straight plus oral antibiotics for about a month. I also had a lot of fluid build up around the tissue expander but luckily when my doctor went in to extract the fluid (surgery #2) it was all clear so he did not have to remove the expander. What a relief that was.
I am going in this Wednesday for my 5th surgery for revisions (new plastic surgeon). She is doing a lift on both sides. Does anyone know if they use new implants every time they do a revision? I forget to ask but now I am curious. I would think because I am sure the implants have to be removes to revise and once they take them out I would think that they are not longer sterile... I really don't want or need another infection... Not fun.. Talk to you all soon. Jennifer
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Here is my two cents....less than a month from last fill to exchange and no problems...even went up a size from 450 TEs to 550 Mentor HP Smooth rounds...it really does depend on PS and the condition of your skin, muscle, etc. I am now scheduled for my nipple surgery this Wednesday which is almost but not quite three months from my March exchange date. Again, I think it is so important to trust your PS, your own instincts, what you have learned and the condition of your own body. I am meeting with PS on Tuesday for one last exam to determine if anything else is to be done during nipple surgery.
I saw my BS this week for what I thought would be my followup mammo ultrasound and she decided to wait until December saying that the lymph nodes following surgeries are often inflamed and she likes to let things settle. Of course she thoroughly examined both breasts...Huge letdown for me but then she had me work with a prosthetic boob filled with the kinds of lumps that can occur and we need to watch for...small hard pebble like things...she had me feel my alloderm/muscle spots so I could differentiate what is expected while healing from a potential problem. She was thrilled with progress thus far (after a heated discussion on my taking DIM/Grapeseed extract as opposed to AI) and said my next visit with her will be in a month or two for tattoo with artist (the artist does it in the BS office)- that was exciting looking at the skill level of this woman, who had BC herself....which puts a whole new spin on it.
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Rebetata -- aw honey I am so sorry to hear this. You've had enough crap! Heal up soon and take care.
Suebee/MBJ -- for the record, my PS (who exchanged me to a gummy) had me wait 8 weeks. I don't think it matters what they are putting in... it depends on the preference of the PS more than anything else. That said, I'm in the camp that thinks waiting is better.
Annette -- that is incredible! I wish I could feel such a thing. My BC was diagnosed by mammogram and was microscopic (DCIS calcifications that were not even detected as IDC until tissue was removed (in spite of having had an MRI as well). So I have no idea what the right kind of bumps feel like (or the wrong kind). I have one hard little bump that my PS says is scar tissue around a stitch and both my BS and my Onc agree (so I have to take their word for it) but boy does it BUG me! It hasn't changed in a year though so I guess I have to believe them
If I could have felt something like what your BS has, I would have been much happier.0 -
Ah Sue I forgot this was due to your PS having to leave.... given that you've found all that info supporting the "no difference" POV and knowing (I think) that waiting means starting over with a new PS... I can understand why you would opt for exchange sooner than later.
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Lilah- my BC WAS diagnosed by mammo...I could never have felt it as it was on 5mm (1/2 cm)...what the BS was showing me was what to look for over my implants in case something weird pops us in a lump form
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Hi everyone!! I know that even though I had a 1 step procedure & NOT exchange, which I'm starting to regret... I have a question. A yr & 1/2 ago I had the one step (this is where they put implants in u right away, no exchange, but not everyone is a canadaite & NOT every woman wants smaller foobs.
So I've had many issues since then... Major pain.. Fat grafting (they take small amounts of fat cells from ur abdomen & insert it into ur "cleavage" area.) I had this done 2x b/c supposedly the bones r rubbing against my chest b/c I have no fat there. Well to say the least this hasn't been as successful as I'd prefer. My right foob is a little off to the side, but firm .... My left foob is soft (mushy..lol) & way off to the side. He supposedly fixed it 1x, but it didn't fix all the way b/c he didn't secure the side w/ allorderm. So here I am looking for my 3rd procedure since I had the implants. I want the left one moved over & "secure". But b4 I do this, I am thinking that maybe a larger implant would be better.So my question is: has Anyone here had implants (after their exchange) in a while & then had them removed & had larger implants put in BUT DIDN'T have drains? Please feel free to PM me or respond here!! Thx Tink0 -
Rebetata: I am so sorry you are going through this! Feel better soon! Big hugs.
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Tinkerbell: From what I understand only smaller implants can be used with the 1 step. Do they place the implants over or under the muscle when they use this procedure? Alloderm is what has helped to keep mine in place, that and having a sewed down expander. Best of luck to you with this.
Sue: I had forgotten about your PS leaving so i would move forward and just know that you run a slight risk of a do-over or being unhappy. Also, in us, uhem, older women, our skin stretches much easier then you young 'uns. Hugs!
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Lilah: Having had a non-cancerous lump since I was 20 which was finally removed with my MX, lumps that are smooth are usually nothing--my cancerous lump was very grainy to the touch. That's why I knew long before my biopsy reults that I had BC. I have a few small, under the arm/along the side lumps from the MX,and even though it's obvious to me it's just scar tissue, every once in awhile I have alittle panic attack and have to talk myself down.
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Thank you ladies for all the well wishing. To answer a couple questions. I am about a year and three months since the exchange initial. Cellulitis attaché the skin it is a skin infection and for me they are not sure why or how I got it. I am much less red almost a very powder pink. I will be on antibiotics for at least 10 more days but I will take them as long as needed long as I don't jeopardize the implant.
I am surprisingly upbeat about the whole thing now but this past few days I was a little crazy.LOL I have come to far to let this knock me down.
Best to all hugs,
Rebecca0 -
Wow thanks to everyone for their replies. I have been seeing this PS every week to every other week since January and I have always gotten the sense that he errs on the side of caution. Especially with my incision problems, he wouldnt fill or allow me to do anything until it was 100%...even when it meant another 3 week delay at one point. I also got the sense that he is definitely considering my personal situation. He has been so happy with the stretching and condition of my skin, the placement of the TE and its shape...saying I will need little pocket work. Even before he was moving, he was saying he likes to wait 3 weeks before exchange. He is now staying in town until August if any complications arise, but I will probably be meeting the new PS in July as scheduled. I have to have faith that he is doing the right thing. I also found out the reason for his move was that he was hand picked to head up a new PS clinic at the new base. So it seems the military ALSO believes in his work and abilities. ANYWAY, Annette you made me feel better...Cindy, Lilah and MBJ Ill ask him if its worth another week wait or not (John Hopkins - I called and asked - suggests 4-6 weeks for exchange so another week would be 4).
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Annette -- I hear ya
That's why I said I wish MY bs had a similar thing to feel.MBJ -- thank you! That is a really helpful description and I know the feeling about being talked down. I always have to remind myself that THREE doctors agree that the pea bump is scar tissue. It IS smooth by the way. That makes me feel SO much better.
Tinkerbell -- I absolutely think you could opt to do the more standard TE followed by implant if you are not happy with how things are going. MBJ does ask a good question as to whether the one step is under or over the muscle. It does sound like you would benefit from getting the opinion of another PS at this point. I know that one of the members here had a very unsatisfying experience with her initial TE / exchange and I sent her to my PS, who proceeded to remove the offending implant, install a NEW TE and then exchange to a new implant. The whole procedure corrected what was, for her, a very unsatisfactory result. So I say: go get a second opinion before doing any more "revisions".
Jennifer -- I am pretty sure they have to replace with new implants due to the sterility issue (I agree that once the current implant is removed they would no longer be sterile). I guess it depends on whether the revision will require removal of the implant. Didn't you have to sign a consent form detailing what was to be done (at your last pre-op appointment)? It may say there something like "replace with XXX implant" etc.
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Hey ladies, two days since my exchange. Today, still sore, but moved around alot and napped off and on because the medication makes me sleepy.
The non-cancer side is already dropping. I have nice cleavage and the middle area of each breast is starting to fill out. Once they both drop, I can see the projection will get better. I am really happy with the results so far...it can only get better. I did develop capsular contracture with the TE's, so my PS used textured implants for my exchange. I don't have a step off and everything just flows really nicely. I sound high, don't I? Just really happy that this phase is over. I feel like I am on the road to my new "normal" life.
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No Sliky - not high - just happy and wonderful! Im so happy youre seeing good results already. Thats fantastic!!!
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Jennifer, I think it was you who inquired whether they used new implants if the removed them during a reconstruction/revision. I had my saline implants removed when PS did alloderm revision. Surgical
Notes from procedure states that implant was carefully removed, cleaned and placed in a basin with an antibiotic in it to keep any germ from getting on it. They put it back in and I had no problems. This was done once with each implant at 5months apart. The only problem I had was that the right one developed a leak and Mentor thought it was from an alloderm internal stitch rubbing on it, not to mention that I fell on that sde and slid two months after alloderm surgery. PS replaced it in his office surgical suite. Too bad Mentor didn't honor their warranty on it as I now have today for it. At least it was saline so leak was evident.0 -
YEAH SLINKY!!!!! You sound WONDERFUL and relieved...no small thing:)
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Thanks for all the replies.. Lilah, I did sign a consent but of course I never read anything.. Just sign and return..Well I guess I will know on Wednesday. Good luck to all of you who are having surgery this week.. I will let you all know how it went.
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I had my exchange 4 weeks ago (saline implants) and I just realized after reading some of your posts that the 2 "bubbles" I have on my left breast are ripples! Do you guys know what is the exact cause of ripples? Is there a way to get rid of them? Though as long as I look good in a bras it is not that bad.
You guys are so great. It helped me so much reading all of you when I had so many questions after reconstruction.
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Congratulations Slinky!!!
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Congrats Slinky!!!! You sound so happy and overjoyed with your results.
Im going for my exchange this thursday (6/9) as well as having a reduction one my other girl. (she's been so ignored for the past 6 months!) For some unknown reason, i'm more nervous about this surgery, than the lumpectomy, Mx, and all the rads, chemo and other tests we have to go through.
And a thank you to all of you who have kept those of us who will be having our surgeries shortly, for being very positive. Any time I'm feeling antsy, I return here, to get that "it'll be OK" feeling again.
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MBJ....Im having the grafted nipple and aerola. Are you happy with your results? what did they give you to protect the nipple till it could be used?
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Slinky and others who had exchange this week -- wahooo!!!!
Izzybelle -- ripples are a combo of gravity (hanging the silicone filled implants vertically) and thin skin. It's just the nature of the liquid to ripple some and if your skin is thin it shows through. At least that's how I understand it.
Mejoy -- I've heard all sorts of things are provided, from gauze to nursing pads to, in one case, swim goggles cut in half and turned up to form a cover!
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Mejoy: I am so excited for you! I was so relieved to get the TE out--and also to have my breasts balanced out. I am very happy with my nipple/areola. Can't wait to get the tattoo and a bit more fat grafting to finish it off. My PS just cut a hole through several layers of bandaging with a final layer to cover the top-about an inch thick--and I wore a loose bra with it. Someone else told me about a Morena Nipple protector that you can find in the nursing mother department at your local drugstore or Target. You cut the tip off in half and I taped this over the bandage and it kept the bra from pressing down on the nipple. In the end, my nipple got flattened quite a bit (I couldn't where the nipple protector forever) but I am fine with that. It sticks out just enough to look like a nipple that is barley cold. Good luck!!!
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MbJ Can you tell us about the fat grafting that you had?
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May I join you all?! Scheduled for exchange on June 21st (6 months post PBMX, 4 months post last fill). I'm starting to worry again about the potential pain and limitations, but mostly about having to adjust again to a new set. While I don't love the feel of the TEs, I'm now used to the way they look....in clothes, at least. Talked to my PS about how to prevent the hamburger bun look and he looked at me as if I were crazy and said not to worry, not an issue for me.....hmmm don't know about that....
Putting you all on my 'send happy vibes to' list-
Kelly
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Welcome, Kelly! Sure you can join us, we're all in this together. I think "worry" is my first, middle, and last name right now.
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